Switch zoning for NetApp E-Series storage systems

Switch zoning configurations for the NetApp E-Series system include fabric zoning, target port sharing, host splitting, and controller splitting.

The NetApp E-Series system has no zoning limitations.

The NetApp E-Series systems present themselves by default to a Storwize® V3500 system as a single WWNN system with a WWPN for each port zoned to Storwize V3500. For example, if one of these storage systems has four ports that are zoned to Storwize V3500, each port appears as a controller with four WWPNs. A given logical unit (LU) must be mapped to Storwize V3500 through all controller ports that are zoned to Storwize V3500 by using the same logical unit number (LUN).

The controller must be separately zoned to Storwize V3500 ports for exclusivity requirements.

Fabric zoning

For robustness, dual fabrics is the minimum requirement.

Zone controllers individually. Storwize V3500 must have unique access to the LUNs.

Also, for robustness the NetApp E-Series controller fabric zone contains all the Storwize V3500 ports and at least one port from each of the NetApp E-Series storage systems controllers.

Target port sharing

The NetApp E-Series storage system supports LUN masking to enable multiple servers to access separate LUNs through a common controller port. To guarantee the necessary unique LUN access, use explicit masking with Storwize V3500.

Host splitting

Host splitting can be used. With hosts that connect to Storwize V3500 and the controller, Storwize V3500 must have sole access to its LUNs. There might be MPIO interaction considerations. For details about the supported host multipathing, see the following site:

www.ibm.com/support